Forest Web of Life  

Walking through acres of Oatland forest you will become aware of its connection with the ever-changing Web of Life. While exploring the forest students will identify and record the roles of its producers, consumers, and decomposers. Students will demonstrate how these three parts are connected to form first food chains and then food webs.

Georgia Performance Standards: S4CS1(a), S4CS5(b), S4L1 (a-c)

Tidal Creek Ecology

Georgia has 1/3 of the remaining salt marshes along the east coast of the United States.  Thousands of tidal creeks flow like beautiful ribbons through acres and acres of wet, muddy marshlands and create a dynamic habitat for some unusual organisms.  The waters here rise and fall twice each day to continually irrigate and flush these extremely rich, nutrient producing wetlands. Upon closer investigation it is learned that many organisms, including ourselves, either reside in or depend on this salty environment. Students collect data and observe organisms in the salt marsh ecosystem through a living lab, a non-living lab, and a boat trip down Richardson’s Creek.  They learn how organisms have adapted to survive in this unique, but harsh environment, and how they are interconnected with each other and with humans through a food web.

Georgia Performance Standards: S4CS1, S4CS3, S4CS4, S4CS7, S4CS8, S4E2, S4L1, S4L2

Cost:

Chatham County Public Schools - $6.00 per student

Chatham County Private Schools   - $7.00 per student

Out of County Schools - $10.00 per student

Salt Marsh Ecology   

The interdependence of life is illustrated in the salt marshes of Georgia. The marsh sustains countless species, ranging from the Spartina (cordgrass) to human beings. Students will observe the many plants and animals in the marsh habitat. These organisms are uniquely adapted to the wide range of salinity, temperature, and water levels found in this environment. The marsh provides economic value from fishing and shrimping as well as habitat for many organisms. We even use the marsh for recreational purposes. The marsh acts as a protective barrier for the mainland against storms. All in all, the salt marsh is a very important place.

Georgia Performance Standards: S4CS1, S4CS3, S4CS4, S4CS7, S4CS8, S4E2, S4L1, S4L2

Animal Adaptations   

Staying alive in the natural world is not an easy task. Organisms have characteristics and behaviors that help them survive in their particular habitats (adaptations). These adaptations have evolved slowly through many generations of organisms. At the present time, humans are causing the natural world to change at such a rapid rate that many animals do not have the proper adaptations to deal with the changes. These animals become endangered while those that have more flexible needs survive to produce more offspring. The animal adaptations field trip will focus mainly on animal adaptations such as color, patterns, body shape, and behaviors. Student will participate in both indoor and outdoor adaptation activities and will observe live animals.

Georgia Performance Standards: S4CS1, S4CS4, S4CS6, S4L1, S4L2

The Sun, Moon and Stars- Digitarium (Portable Planetarium)

Many students believe that the earth’s distance from the sun varies enough during its orbit to cause the seasons.   It is a common misconception that the earth orbits the sun in an elongated elliptical path and that this is what causes earth’s distance from the sun to vary.  The most common misconceptions that students have about moon phases--such as clouds block the moon or earth's shadow covers the moon--are reasonable, but don't hold up under careful observation of the moon.  During this program, students will examine the relative position and motion of the moon, the sun and the earth and how they determine the seasons, the phases of the moon and eclipses.

Georgia Performance Standards: S4CS1, S4CS4, S4CS5, S4CS7, S4E1, S4E2

The Digitarium can come to your school gymnasium! It requires a room with at least a 12 foot ceiling and a 25 foot X 25 foot floor space.  Call 395-1212 for more information.

To reference Georgia Performance Standards visit:        www.georgiastandards.org